LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's basketball team fell to UC Santa Barbara at the Pan American Center on Friday afternoon. Despite a career-high 14 points from Jasmine Cooper, the Aggies were unable to overcome an early deficit and fell 77-47.
How It Happened
NM State (5-8) gave up three-straight three-point baskets to UC Santa Barbara (3-9) to start the contest, falling behind 9-6 early. Brooke Salas hit a layup out of the media timeout to cut the Gauchos led to a single point but the Aggies gave up another shot from beyond the arc, extending the opponent's lead. A 7-0 run by UCSB put New Mexico State behind 21-10 but a bucket by Cooper snapped the streak and at the break, NM State trailed 24-12.
The Aggies went back-and-forth with the Gauchos to start the second quarter but a 6-0 run by UCSB put NM State behind 35-16. Baylee Robinson snapped the UC Santa Barbara rally with 6:10 remaining in the half but it was the last basket the Aggies scored in the first half as the team was outscored a total of 26-6 in the quarter.
Trailing 50-18 heading into the second half, New Mexico State gave up an 8-0 run to open the third quarter. Back-to-back layups by Cooper sparked an 8-2 run by NM State but the Aggies remained behind 61-26. Robinson hit a jumper for New Mexico State with under a minute left to play but the team went into the fourth looking to overcomes a 39 point deficit.
The Aggies began the final quarter with 7-2 run and great defense by NM State forced the Gauchos to take a timeout at the 5:55 mark. Tonishia Childress hit the Aggies first three-point basket of the contest with to cut the UCSB lead to 33. However, the New Mexico State squad could not pull off the comeback and the team fell 77-47.
By the Numbers
NM State gave up 14 three-pointers to UCSB while only hitting a single basket from beyond the arc. Brooke Salas led the team with 18 points while also posting seven rebounds in the loss. Cooper posted a career-high 14 points in the contest. She also recorded a block and a pair of steals in her 30 minutes played.
The Aggies are set to close out 2017 against Western New Mexico at the Pan American Center on Sunday, Dec. 31, at 2 P.M. MT.
